Insulator changer



51 ONS AT 'R HANGER INSUL I Patented Feb. 8,1927.

1 UNITED STATES JOHN GILBERT SENIORS, -OF MARION, HJJNQISL Y msunn' ron cmuenn.

Application in mi m 13, 1923. Serial no. 657.158.

My invention relates to insulator changers and has particular reference to an improved 1 portable device adapted for use by linemen to assist in the replacement and repair of damaged insulators on high tension elec- -"tric transmission-lines.

It is to be understood that overhead elecc systems for the transmission and dis tribution of hightension electric currents 1.0 usually com rise a system of poles or towers each provi ed with upper cross-arms. carry ng-at opposite sides of the pole one or -more insulators on which are supported and attached the line wires of the system. These insulators are generally made of glass, porcelain, or other non-conducting. material and 5 due to their construction, conditions of use and varying climatic conditions, these insulators become cracked or broken and require frequent replacement and repair. It

' has heretofore been customary, when it is desired to repair or replace a defective or damaged insulator, to cut off the current in theline wires to enable the linemen'to handle 2 the linewire without danger of injury; but

such interruption of current is not desirable and is to avoided if possible.

It is an'object; of my invention to provide an insulator. changer: comprising means for '3 temporarily supporting the line wires of high tension transmission lines in such a manner that the lineman may safely and conveniently repair or replace the defective or damaged insulator without the necessity of cutas ting off the current passing through the line wire.

A further object .of my invention isto pro vide an insulator changer capable of ready I attachment to the supporting pole or tower so on which the damaged insulator is located,

and which, by proper manipulation, will temporarily supportand maintain the line wire out of engagement with the insulator to enable the lineman to. safely repair or replace the same without danger. ofinjury and'with-' out the necessity of interrupting the current passing through the line wire. A further object of-my'invention is to pro vide a device of the above mentioned character that is simple in construction, inexpensive. to manufacture, strong and durable, and. highl eflicient and convenient in the purposes or which designed.

V In the accompany g drawings, forming a part of specification, and in WhlOll like I- clamping member 12, swiveled at one end of mental section 15.

numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views;

Figure l is an elevation of a supporting pole for high tension transmission lines, ShOWlIlg my improved insulator changer attachedand in position to temporarily support the line wire;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 3'is a sectional view ofthe line wire engaging end ofthe lifting pole; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2. I

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of,illustration is shown a preferred example of my invention, the nu- -meral 5 designates a pole such as commonly used on high tension transmission lines, said pole being provided near its u per end with transverse cross arms 6 stren ened by suitable diagonal supports 7. At opposite sides I A of the pole 5, each of said cross arms is provided withone or more insulators 8 u on which are supportedand fastened the line wires-9.. All of the above construction'is old and well known in the art and constitutes no part of my present invention.

My improvedinsulator changer comprises a lifting pole. 10, referably formed of wood or other non-con ucting material, and having at its upperfextremity a. wire engaging clamp 11. adapted to be opened or closed by axial rotation of the pole. The pole-10 is slidably and pivotally mountd within a a transverse 'bar or section 13. v The section 13 has a depending perpendicular portion 14 anda segmental portion 15. which is provided with a longitudinal series of holesor passages 16 for'bolts or pins, serving a purposeto be hereinafter described. The section 13 further carries secmndperpendicular and segmental "portions the lifting pole 10. The segmental section 1.?" isalso provided with a series of longitudrnal holes or passages 16' which register 106 with the holes or passages 16 in the seg- The' pole engaging member of my iniproved device com uses a pair of co-acting semi-circular meta straps 18 and 19, hav- "0 ing' outwardly extending end portions 20 and 21, each provided. with openings through which maybe passed the Clamping bolts 22. The inner surface of these straps 18 and 19 may be provided with inwardly projecting spurs 23 which assist in maintainingthe device in its adjusted position upon the pole. The-transverse section 13 is secured to the metal strap 19 by means of suitable rivets or bolts 25.

Referring to the operation of my improved device, and assuming that it is desired to replace or repair a defective or damaged insulator without the necessity of interrupting the current flowingthrough the line, the segmental sections 18 and 19 are placed in appropriate position about the pole 5 and securely fastened thereto by means of the clamping bolts 22. The lifting pole 10, which has been previously passed through the clamp 12 and between the parallel sections 14 and 14 and 15 and 15', is then manipulated until the wire engaging end 11 is -brought into engagement with the line wire 9, and is clamped securely thereto by axial rotation of the pole 10. The lifting pole 10 is then forced upwardly until the line wire 9 is clear of the insulator 8 and the clamp 12 is then tightened to securely maintain the pole in its extended po-' sition. The'pole 10 is then moved about the pivot of the clamp 12 as clearly shown in dotted lines in Eig. 1, until the. line wire is entirely away from the insulator 8, thus leaving room for the lineman to remove and replace the insulator without any danger of contact with the current-carrying line wire. WVhen the line wire 9 has been. moved sufficiently to one side of the insulator to en-' able the lineman to safely remove the same, pins of bolts 24 are inserted on opposite sides of the pole 10, through adjacent holes or passages 16 and 16 in the segments 15 and 15 which securely hold the pole against movement about the pivot of the clamp 12. It is also-to be observed that the extensions 20 and 21 form a substantial and convenient standing place upon which the lineman may stand while changing the insulator.

After the damaged or defective insulator has been replaced the pins or bolts 24 are removed, the clamp 12 released or loosened and the line wire returned and fastened to the insulator. It thus -pbvious that I; have provided an elficient apparatus for ac-? transmission lines, comprising a support temporarily connected to a pole, spaced par-,

allel sections carried by the support, a lifting pole pivotally mounted on said support and extending between said parallel sections, means carried by said lifting pole for engaging and holding the line wire, and means carried by the parallel sections for maintaining said lifting pole in an adjusted position about its pivotal mounting.

2. An insulator changer for high tensiontransmission lines, comprising a support temporarily connected to a pole, spaced parallel sections carried by said support, a lifting pole slidably and pivotally mounted on said support, and extending between said parallel sections, means carried by said lift- 7 ing pole for engaging and holding the line wire, means for maintaining said lifting pole in extended position, and meanscarried by said parallel sections for maintaining the lifting pole in an adjusted position about its pivotal mounting.

3. An insulator changer for high tension transmission lines comprising a support' adapted to be temporarily secured to a pole, spaced parallel sections carried by said support and having a series of spaced registering openings, a lifting pole pivotally mounted on said support and extending between sald parallel sections, means carried by said lifting pole for engaging and holding the,

line wire, and pins inserted in the holes of said parallel sections on opposite sides of .said lifting pole to maintain the lifting pole in an adjusted position about its pivotal mounting.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. 7

JOHN GILBERT. snmons. 

